Marathon, Greece
Marathon
Μαραθώνας | |
|---|---|
The town of Marathon | |
Marathon | |
| Coordinates: 38°9′12″N 23°57′43″E / 38.15333°N 23.96194°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Attica |
| Regional unit | East Attica |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Stergios Tsirkas (since 2019) |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 222.75 km2 (86.00 sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 97.06 km2 (37.48 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 33 m (108 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Municipality | 31,331 |
| • Density | 140.66/km2 (364.30/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 10,063 |
| • Municipal unit density | 103.7/km2 (268.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 190 07 |
| Area code | 22940 |
| Vehicle registration | Z |
| Website | www.marathon.gr |
Marathon (Demotic Greek: Μαραθώνας, Marathónas; Attic/Katharevousa: Μαραθών, Marathṓn) is a town in Greece and the site of the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians. Legend has it that Pheidippides, a Greek herald at the battle, was sent running from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory, which is how the marathon running race was conceived in modern times. Today it is part of East Attica regional unit, in the outskirts of Athens and a popular resort town and center of agriculture.